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All Chapters of It's Too Late to Love Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Eliza's POVI looked at Dorian Keller one last time.Then I stood and walked away."Eliza is still as difficult as ever. This is all your fault. I told you I didn't want to come tonight. Now I look ridiculous..."Arabella Crane's spoiled voice floated after me exactly the way it had years ago.Apparently her family's collapse hadn't changed her much.I glanced back despite myself.Dorian had bent down and pulled her protectively into his arms, murmuring something to calm her.At exactly ten that night, he came home.He didn't even take off his coat before speaking."You should apologize to Arabella tomorrow."She cried after you left."He looked at me with disappointment."Eliza, you're not a kid anymore. Arabella wasn't the only person there. We had friends around us. You can't think only about your own feelings all the time. It was rude."Maybe I hadn't slept enough the night before. My heart was beating so fast it made me uncomfortable.He went on."It was just a bow

Chapter 2

Wednesday at ten-thirty was the slot Dorian had reserved on his "standard schedule" for sex.Once a week, thirty minutes each time.He had a recurring alarm for it.He was never late, and he never went overtime.When the half hour ended, he would rather take a cold shower than touch me again."Five minutes left," he said after coming out of the bathroom. "If we're doing this, hurry up."I stayed where I was.His expression cooled."Eliza, what now?"I wasn't trying to start a fight.I didn't want to fight anymore."Dorian, I think we should brea—"His phone rang before I could finish.He glanced at the screen and answered in a low voice."Okay. Don't be scared. I'm coming now."He was already changing clothes."Some debt collectors are outside Arabella's apartment. I don't feel comfortable leaving her there alone. I'll be back soon."The front door slammed at the same moment his intimacy alarm went off.The overlapping sounds made my head ache.The next day, I nearly

Chapter 3

Dorian's expression cracked for half a second.He took half a step toward me, lips parting, then remembered how many people were watching."Ms. Hartwell. My office."The door closed behind us."Eliza, unnecessary explanations only make things more complicated. Can you not do this?"His voice was low.His eyes were full of a tenderness he refused to show me outside this room.He reached for my hand.I moved away."I can explain what you saw."Arabella's family is in trouble. I'm only helping her. There's nothing between us. And it's just a ring. If you want one, I'll buy you something better."Every year, Dorian ordered my birthday gift in advance and scheduled it for delivery on the day.One year, he gave me the exact same gift he sent to a client.His explanation was simple."I hate unnecessary shopping. It's the thought that matters."Arabella's ring, meanwhile, had once belonged to a European nobleman's first love.Its story was famous: the first person he loved, and

Chapter 4

When I got home, I began clearing everything out.Matching clothes, scarves, gloves, mugs—seven years of things Dorian had once helped me choose one by one.Back then, he'd smiled and said, "Now you won't have to worry about anyone stealing me from you."There was so much that it took me an entire day to pack it into one enormous box.I dragged it downstairs and forced it into the dumpster.If someone wanted to steal him now, they were welcome to him.A book slipped from the box and hit the pavement.I must have packed it by mistake.When I picked it up, an old yellowed envelope fell from between the pages.My heart began pounding for no reason I could explain.It was a love letter.The signature at the bottom belonged to Dorian.And it was addressed to Arabella.Every line was painfully sincere.[One day, I'll stand somewhere so high you'll have no choice but to see me.]He had never said anything like that to me.Dorian had known Arabella before he knew me.He had lo

Chapter 5

The marketing department's new bid proposal had leaked the day before.The version held by a competing company closely matched a document I had worked on.The sky outside the windows was gray. Somewhere below, a car horn blared, cutting sharply through the air.When I pushed open the conference room door, every face turned toward me.Arabella sat at Dorian's left, half-turned in her chair, her eyes red.My voice recorder was on the table.A crack ran down the silver casing from top to bottom like an ugly scar.Beside it, the marketing director's laptop displayed the company group chat with my old photograph enlarged across the screen.Someone had finally replied underneath it.[Photoshopped?]A row of +1s followed.Arabella jumped up and hurried toward me."Eliza, I didn't want to report you. But I'm part of this company now. I couldn't stand by if someone was damaging the business. I'm sorry. Please don't be angry with me."So that was her game: guilt-tripping me in front

Chapter 6

Arabella lowered her head.The corner of her mouth curved."Ms. Hartwell."Dorian finally looked at me.His voice was calm."Sit down. The company will investigate.""How?""According to standard procedure.""What procedure repairs a destroyed memory card?"His eyes flicked toward the two broken pieces.Guilt flashed there.Then he looked away."I've worked with Ms. Hartwell for years. I don't believe she's the kind of person who leaks confidential company information. As for the recorder, the company will compensate her."He knew nothing could ever replace it.He said it anyway.Arabella tugged lightly on his sleeve."Dorian, did I cause trouble for you?"Her voice shook delicately.Dorian looked down at her and patted her shoulder. It was light, but everyone saw it."It's fine."She destroyed the last thing my grandmother left me.And he said it was fine.I walked toward Arabella.Dorian stood immediately.I ignored him and turned to Paul."I've sent the docu

Chapter 7

Third-person POVWhen Dorian returned home, he finally noticed how much was missing.Everything that belonged to Eliza was gone.So were all the matching things they had accumulated together.The apartment looked almost ransacked.Dorian had never imagined they could truly separate.Eliza loved him too much.She had always stayed.Then he saw the letter on the floor.His entire body went still.It was the love letter he had once written to Arabella.He had never intended for Eliza to find it.His hands shook as he pulled out his phone.Her number wouldn't connect.He opened their messages instead.He could explain the things with Arabella.He could explain all of it.Then he saw the red warning icon beside his message. He'd been blocked.For a moment, irritation almost overpowered panic.Yes, Arabella had gone too far today.But her family had collapsed.She had nobody else she could rely on.And Eliza had already called the police, hadn't she?The company could

Chapter 8

Eliza's POVWhen I finally answered an unfamiliar number, nobody spoke.I was about to hang up when a rough voice came through."Eliza."Then, more softly, "Liz. I was wrong. I never stopped loving you. I'll have someone repair your grandmother's recorder. Come home, okay?"His words tumbled over one another.I didn't care enough to listen."Dorian, there's no way I'm settling with Arabella.""I wasn't calling to—"I hung up.Then I blocked that number too.Across the city, Dorian stood among a group of friends staring at his phone.The room had gone quieter after the call ended.His face was frighteningly pale.He loosened the collar of his shirt with one hand and looked exhausted.One of his friends finally spoke."That was Eliza, wasn't it? I heard she went home after resigning and opened an inn. Apparently half the guests are showing up because the owner is gorgeous."He shook his head."I don't understand you. One day it's Arabella, the next it's Eliza. Eliza spe

Chapter 9

The next morning, noise in the courtyard woke me.Apparently word had spread that a group of attractive men were staying at my inn, and curious guests had begun pouring in.I spent the morning too busy to deal with Dorian or his friends.When I came back from fishing at the lake, Dorian was waiting by the entrance.I looked him over."You know what this looks like?"The jerk in one of those groveling-redemption romances."Too bad I'm not the softhearted heroine. I don't want your redemption arc."His gaze searched my face as if he expected to find some hidden tenderness."We're full tomorrow. If you want another night, make a reservation.""I can wait.""It's inconvenient. Don't bother.""I don't mind inconvenience."He stared at me."That day at the office, I did believe you.""If you're trying to book, download the app and fight everyone else for a room."Business had become good enough that every room sold out online."I won't get involved in Arabella's mess anymore

Chapter 10

Eliza's POVDorian showed up again without warning.He wore a white suit.He looked like a groom.And he was carrying a wedding dress.He came to me and dropped to one knee."Eliza, will you marry me?"From now on, I'll introduce you to everyone. Arabella has been sentenced to seven years. She won't appear in your life again."I know I hurt you. You stayed with me all these years, and I convinced myself I was only used to having you there. But after you left, I finally understood. I fell in love with you a long time ago. I was just too blind to admit it."He looked almost afraid."Give me one more chance to stay beside you. Please."When I didn't answer, he hurried on."I'll tell everyone openly that you're my girlfriend. That you're the woman I love most in this world."I took my time answering."Why should I?"Dorian stared at me.I stepped forward and took the dress from his arms."Dorian, are you pretending not to remember, or did you really forget?"I held it up.

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